Arts + Culture

Bentonville

The Northwest Arkansas city is more than Walmart's birthplace Article by Patrick Mulvihill | Photography by Anna Petrow Summertime is already halfway through, and if you haven’t piled into the family van and hit the open road, all hope is not lost. The great American road trip doesn’t have to take you to another time zone, after all—it could just take you south of the (Missouri) border to our neighbors in the Natural State. Just a three-hour drive from Kansas City, Bentonville in northwest...

Travel

Where the Bison Roam

A two-hour drive from Kansas City leads you to untouched tall grass prairie and adventure Article by Diana Lambdin Meyer | Photography by Bruce N. Meyer “Where are the bison today?” That’s usually the first question park rangers receive as guests arrive at the visitors’ center at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in Chase County Kansas. As big as they are, an average of 2,400 pounds, you would think a herd of 110 American bison would be visible from anywhere. But here’s the thing...

Home + Design

Backyard Magic

A Liberty family business brings backyard visions to life Article by Katie Currid | Photography by Provided When Jennifer Shreckengost left her career in education after 20 years, she didn’t imagine she’d end up back in the family business. But it’s exactly where she was meant to be. Jennifer and her husband officially bought Tiger Pool & Patio from her dad in 2021, though the family legacy started with her father much earlier in 1981. And while Jennifer didn’t grow up in the trenches of the...

Food + Beverage

Scoop, There It Is

Take an adventure with Northland ice cream flavors this summer Article by Katie Currid | Photography by Hannah Schreiner It’s July, and if you’re going to beat the heat, there better be a pool or some cold treats involved. We love a standard vanilla cone as much as anyone, but sometimes it’s fun to get out of your comfort zone and try something a little more adventurous. Good news is you don’t have to plan a whole trip to have an adventure — you can just try something new! And during the...

Arts + Culture

Barrel Aged

Timeless craftsmanship lives on in Liberty Article by Tiffany Killoren | Photography by Hannah Schreiner To those unfamiliar with the term,  coopering  sounds like a made-up word or something only chicken owners understand (coopering the coop, perhaps?) Both are wildly inaccurate. The term  coopering  and, in turn,  coopers , refers to the centuries-old craft of making wooden barrels and the artisans skilled in doing so. Coopers played a pivotal role in history. The transportation of cargo...

Arts + Culture

Movie Car Magic

It’s about more than the movie cars. It’s about the smiles. Article and Photography by Jennifer Kirby As I follow behind the Ghostbusters Ecto-1 with the movie theme music blaring, it’s easy to see how much joy it brings to the community. Every car we drive past is filled with faces pressed against the windows - their smiles wide across their faces. Even I have a grin from ear to ear and occasionally laugh at the pure fun of the whole situation. Ecto-1 pulls into the parking lot next to the...

Auto + Marine

Thread and Tread

Cody Turnbull restores vehicles inside and out Article and Photography by Katie Currid Cody Turnbull restores cars for a living, but one of his most-used tools in his shop might surprise you: a sewing machine. “I think people are kind of hesitant to get behind the sewing machine and try it just because, [they say, ‘I don’t want to] run a sewing machine all day, I'd rather go get my hands dirty,’” says Cody. “But it's pretty quiet in here, it's clean, I have my own business, I make my own...

Food + Beverage

Hostesses with the Mostest

The women behind Blush Farms have turned hospitality into community — with wine, snacks, and mahjong nights. Article and Photography by Katie Currid The owners of Blush Farms, cousins Marty Wynn and Angie Siddens, were born to host. They grew up watching the matriarchs of their family entertain guests, cooking for them and pulling out all the stops to host a great party at their family farm in rural northern Missouri. “Our moms and our grandma, just hospitality and entertaining and cooking...

Food + Beverage

A Starter Story

From home oven to hottest bakery: Sour Rabbit Bakery hops into the Northland Article by Jenny Vergara | Photography by Hannah Schreiner The journey from being a cottage baker—legally baking and selling pre-ordered items to friends and family from your home kitchen—to opening a retail bakery storefront comes with a steep learning curve. That’s certainly been the case for Atsuko Hammann, who ran her cottage bakery business for two years before opening  Sour Rabbit Bakery  in Platte Woods. She...

Health + Wellness

Parkville’s Overhead Slam

P2: The women’s pickleball group that’s rallying a community Article and Photography by Jennifer Kirby Pickleball is more than just a sport for the women of P2—it’s about creating a welcoming, empowering space where women can connect and grow. Founded by Michelle Dawalt and Mary Beth Preuss, P2 was born from a love of the game and a desire to help others improve and thrive on the court. The name P2 holds special meaning. "Our tagline and value is 'Propel your Passion,' and that’s what we...